Rental Car Help

[TwistGrl101]

I am currently in a panic. We are booked at Bonnet Creek in July, and flying into MCO. I just went online to book a rental car, and it is coming out to over $500 for the week using carrentalsavers.com Is this standard for a weekly minivan rental in the summer?
Am I better off taking taxi/Uber/etc my entire trip? This is putting a HUGE dent in our plans...any insight?
Thanks!

 

[Upatnoon]

I am currently in a panic. We are booked at Bonnet Creek in July, and flying into MCO. I just went online to book a rental car, and it is coming out to over $500 for the week using carrentalsavers.com Is this standard for a weekly minivan rental in the summer?
Am I better off taking taxi/Uber/etc my entire trip? This is putting a HUGE dent in our plans...any insight?
Thanks!

You may not know, but there is a transportation thread if you click on the forums link above where there is lots of rental car deal discussion.

 

[sympatico]

Rental car prices change all the time. Vans have been high over the last few years. Keep checking with carrentalsavers, it will go down at some point and then back up. You just have to be diligent. You should post this on the transportation boards. There's a July watch thread already there: http://www.disboards.com/threads/july-2016-rental-car-discounts.3472484/

 

[tgropp]

Try Budget Car Rental
Budget Code: X474200
Coupon Code: MUWZ023
I am getting a van in Dec for $225.00 plus taxes

 

[jsrj21]

My family and I have rented a car for the last 12 trips. We only do so because I am always checking the different agencies at MCO - I mean religiously. I found a car for August [12 days] for $238.00. I just checked today and the prices have tripled!

I wouldn't lose hope...just check the rental companies that are at the airport every day. I've rented from all of them at some point...plus I've used Advantage [off-site] on two occasions. They were reasonable but the wait that you have to endure sometimes is very annoying and not worth the savings from the agencies at the airport. The convenience at the airport is priceless too. In addition, you should check with an agency that is at the Swan and Dolphin - https://www.alamo.com/en_US/car-ren...ils/US/ORLR74-walt-disney-dolphin-resort.html. I've also rented through Costco and got a great deal last year. Went on a short 4-day RCL cruise and then rented the car in Port Canaveral but returned to MCO.....easy process and I think they charged me $25.00 or something to return to a different location.

I also believe that there's another agency on/near Disney...maybe someone else can chime in. Either way, be vigilant and check every day. Prices fluctuate up....way up, and then they come down eventually. I've rented a car within weeks of our trip [in August] and saved a ton of money. My point? Check all the way until your trip happens and you may find a better deal than the one you already have.

All the best to you!

 

[bfost87]

Prices will not come down at all the last minute unless there is availability. Prices fluctuate based on demand. If a rental agency has lots of bookings and relatively low availability, the prices will go up and not come down. Always book as far in advance as you can, as there is more availability. But like the other poster says, keep checking, because if lots of people cancel or fewer people are booking than forecasted, prices may come down. Based on my experience from working for Enterprise for 5 years.

 

[Ametista]

I have always found the best prices through Costco travel. If you are not a member it is usually worth paying the extra $50 for membership. They only do in-terminal rentals though, like Alamo and Enterprise. You can do a price search and see if it's worth it without being a member. Costcotravel.com

 

[writerguyfl]

Sometimes it's worth getting creative. Just because prices are high at the airport rental locations doesn't mean they are high elsewhere. I do a lot of one-way rentals between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Sometimes prices at the airport can be 3-5 times higher than some of the local offices. Other times, it's the reverse.

As jsrj21 noted, there is an Alamo location at the Dolphin. Alamo also has locations at the Disney Car Care Center (near MK) and at the Buena Vista Palace. The Buena Vista Palace is directly across the street from the main bus area at Disney Springs. You can also find Avis at the Hilton Lake Buena Vista, Dollar at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista, and Budget at the DoubleTree Suites Lake Buena Vista. (All three of those are walking distance from Disney Springs.) Finally, there is a Hertz office at the Hilton Bonnet Creek.

Try pricing a one-way rental from the airport to one of the above locations. Then, get a price for getting a van there for the remainder of your trip. You may get lucky and stumble on a deal that way. The Avis, Dollar, and Alamo (at Buena Vista Palace) are all within a 5 minute walk of each other. So, you could even switch companies without too much hassle.

 

[Anya22]

I will mention something that hasn't been covered yet......NEVER book the rental car with the option that makes you pay for it upon booking. Those are usually nonrefundable. Book something refundable now (you shouldn't need to enter credit card info) just for peace of mind that you have a van and then check back periodically as the prices will fluctuate widely. You can easily cancel the previously booked reservation when you find a better deal. I sometimes reserve and cancel 4 or 5 times before I get the best rate. People post coupon codes and advice over on the Transportation board.